The major focus of Dr. Christiano's lab is the study inherited skin and hair disorders in humans, through a broad-based approach including genetic linkage, gene discovery and mutation analysis, and most recently, functional studies relating these findings back to basic questions in epidermal biology. Molecular aspects of the cutaneous basement membrane zone, adhesion junctions including hemidesmosomes and desmosomes, and epidermal appendages such as hair and teeth, are strong basic science interests in the laboratory. One long-range goal of the lab's research is to develop rationally designed genetic therapies for skin and hair diseases through understanding the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms. Dr. Christiano's group is also exploring the role of retinoid signaling during epidermal development and differentiation using mouse models. In particular, she is studying the potential interactions of the RXR-alpha gene with hairless and is identifying targets of retinoic acid and its receptors in the skin, using microarray profiling.